The air traffic control figures are the latest evidence of the damage that the credit crisis has done to the airline industry.

Planes have been grounded and routes cut as airlines struggle to cope with the fall in passenger numbers. Despite the evidence of a slowdown, the Department for Transport’s projections for future passenger figures show a steady increase.

The latest official projections showing passenger numbers rising from 241 million passengers per year in 2007 to 465m in 2030.